Racing eastward toward the capital, the guardian cavalry followed a route along the famous Taihang Mountains.0

As they reached the end of the Taihang Mountains, they arrived at a mountain known as Western Mountain. Beyond this, the terrain opened up, and the capital lay ahead. The name of Western Mountain was indeed pretty self-explanatory—it simply referred to the mountain west of the imperial capital.0

By the time Yeletu and his men reached Western Mountain, it was deep into the night. Snow blanketed the ground, and the capital was shrouded in darkness, invisible in the snowy night.0

Yeletu abruptly raised a hand, signaling the group to halt. “The closer we get to the target, the more cautious we must be. War in the Central Plains differs greatly from our own. Be wary of ambushes. Send two squads to scout the left and right sides of the mountain ahead.”0

Two groups quickly dismounted, vanishing into the dark forest with their movement arts.0

The remaining cavalry stayed in place, reining in their horses and surveying the surroundings. The dense forest, cloaked in shadows and silence, seemed eerily foreboding under the dim light of the snow-covered night.0

Winter campaigns differed significantly...0